Lai Chau (VNA)☂ – The 15th Party Congress of the northern province of Lai Chau for the 2025–2030 term opened on September 18, with 350 delegates representing 31,578 Party members in the Party organisation.

In his opening remarks, General Trinh Van Quyet, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army, praised the achievements of the provincial Party organisation, administration, and people during the 2020–2025 tenure. He urged Lai Chau to pursue rapid and sustainable growth by leveraging its advantages to create breakthroughs, aiming for double-digit expansion to contribute to the nation’s high development goals. Agriculture should be restructured toward higher value and sustainability, with safe and organic farming, advanced technology, and specialty products such as medicinal herbs and livestock linked to deep processing, branding, and wider market access. He also stressed the need to boost clean energy, mining, and processing industries, accelerate rare earth mining projects, and foster a multi-sector economy, especially the private sector, in line with Politburo Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW and Government Resolution No. 138/NQ-CP. He called for stronger development of border-gate and cross-border trade economies. The officer also asked the province to streamline its personnel system, particularly leaders at all levels, and build a contingent of capable, visionary officials willing to innovate and take responsibility. Effective leadership and operation of the two-tier local government model, he said, would provide a solid foundation for the future. Permanent Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Le Minh Ngan reported that Lai Chau had made important strides during 2020–2025 thanks to unity and resilience. The province’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) expanded by an average of 5.4% annually, reaching 32.6 trillion VND (1.23 billion USD), while per capita income rose to about 65 million VND per year, up 21.3 million VND from 2020. The economic structure shifted in a positive direction. Industry remained a key driver, with import–export turnover hitting an estimated 188.7 million USD. Tourism also boomed, drawing over 5 million visitors during the tenure, a 33.4% average annual increase, and generating 3.8 trillion VND in revenue. The province now boasts 22 recognised tourist sites and several new-style rural villages linked with tourism. Education reforms improved quality and efficiency, while social welfare was ensured, with poverty falling by an average of 3.9% annually. Implementing organisational streamlining and the two-tier local government model, the province cut nearly 900 organisations and units, about 1,500 payroll positions, 68 commune-level administrative units, 267 grassroots Party organisations, and 79 Party cells. The congress elected the 14th provincial Party Committee for the 2025–2030 term, consisting of 47 members. On September 19, its first plenary session will take place to select delegates to the 14th National Party Congress./.